PlayClaw

Bragging about that game boss you killed last night is much better when you have video evidence of your conquest. Hardcore gamers can take advantage of apps like PlayClaw, which can provide both still and video snapshots.

While the interface of the software is nothing impressive in the visual department, it’s very practical, managing to provide all the options you might want to modify from a single window. For example, you can change the output directories for the resulting pictures and videos. Also, you can have the app run at Windows startup, open it minimized or show the icon only in System Tray.

The app allows you to change some basic capture settings, like the hotkeys for firing up the screen grabs, as well as for starting and stopping the video recordings. The encoder can also be chosen through a drop-down menu, as well as the number of FPS (frames per second).

In order to display the app’s in-game settings, you must assign a keyboard, which can also be done from the main frame. When you want to bring up the “Options” menu while you’re in the middle of an important in-game battle, you can do so easily, without having to leave the window. The program supports two output formats, namely AVI for videos and PNG for pictures.

Regarding the video captures, you can change the audio source. The tool also supports chat apps overlay, like Teamspeak or Ventrilo; it displays the nicknames of the people who are talking.

The fact of the matter is that PlayClaw is a useful tool, especially for gamers. It’s easy to set up and use and shouldn’t be tough to figure out even by less experienced users.